Your questions answered: Should I cancel my LandCruiser diesel order for the new hybrid?

Fuel saving is front of mind for many carsales readers this week, with a mix of hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrid coming into play.

But just because a car is a hybrid doesn’t mean it will save much in the way of fuel, as we look into with the upcoming Toyota LandCruiser hybrid.

We’ve also got someone sussing out a plug-in hybrid ute but wondering what’s going on with fuel use when towing. Are the new breed really as economical as the brochure makes out?

Plus we’re looking for affordable around-town EVs (there’s no shortage) and reliable (and vaguely rugged) second-hand wagons.

We also delve into the values of second-hand utes, something that can be difficult to ascertain given the breadth of the workhorse market.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at

editor@carsales.com.au

Question: Just wondering what you think about the hybrid version of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series? Electric seems to be the flavour of the near future and I’m thinking of changing my GR Sport order and waiting on the hybrid. Can’t seem to find anything on its fuel economy though. – Robin

Answer: If saving fuel is your goal then I wouldn’t be backing away from the diesel you already have on order.

Yes, Toyota is working on a fuel-saving hybrid and says it will still be a few years away.

The hybrid system recently announced for the LandCruiser – it arrives here early in 2026 – is very different to the fuel-sipping hybrid systems Toyota has built its hybrid reputation on.

It uses the same 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that debuted in the ginormous Tundra pick-up truck.

There’s no word yet on how much fuel it will use but expect it to comfortably exceed the consumption of the existing diesel LandCruiser.

The Tundra doesn’t have an official Australian fuel use figure because it’s classified as a light truck. However, in the US the Tundra V6 hybrid quotes around 12L/100km.

A diesel LandCruiser has a fuel figure of 8.9L/100km.

Sure, the LandCruiser diesel will use more than that in real-world driving, but so does the Tundra.

In short, that hybrid LandCruiser is the model you’d buy if you want better performance, not if you’re trying to slash fuel bills.

Question: I was looking at a plug-in hybrid ute but have heard they can be quite thirsty, especially when towing. Why is that? The fuel figures on them look impressively low, like less than 3L/100km. I know it’d use more than that when towing but if I can get close to that at other times it seems like a perfect solution. – Gareth

Answer: Plug-in hybrids (be they utes, SUVs, sedans, or whatever) have to some extent done a brilliant job of meeting stricter emissions regulations – especially in Europe – and a far less brilliant job of saving fuel on longer journeys.

Blame it partly on the government tests that are conducted in a laboratory over a comparatively short distance. It means the car can rely mostly on the electrical energy in the battery for the test, providing a distorted view of fuel use over longer distances.

In our experience most PHEVs will use three to four times more fuel than their claimed fuel use once the battery has been depleted.

And, obviously, you can expect even higher fuel use when towing due to the additional energy required to shift more weight.

Some car makers, including BYD and Mitsubishi, give an expected fuel use figure when the battery has been depleted and the car is running in hybrid mode.

It’s a far better way to give customers a more realistic idea of how much fuel their car will use rather than have them getting angry weeks into the ownership experience.

But if you’re looking at a PHEV with one of those ridiculously low fuel numbers, start by multiplying it by four to get a vague idea of what it might use when running purely in hybrid mode.

Of course, that means that by far the best option for a PHEV is charging the battery regularly (every night, ideally) and leaning more on the electric side of the hybrid system.

That said, PHEVs also aren’t particularly economical as EVs because they are dragging around a lot of extra weight in the engine, fuel tank and other associated ICE hardware.

Question: Hello, I’m retired and live at Umina Beach (NSW). I just need an EV to get to the surf/around town. Otherwise I catch trains, fly or hire a car when I need to get out of my backyard. I’m one less petrol car on the road. – Patrick

Answer: It sounds like you won’t be doing big kilometres and don’t necessarily need something sparkling new. There’s no shortage of great used EVs on the market right now.

However, while many expensive EVs have suffered poor residual values, some of those at the cheaper end of the market are holding up remarkably well.

Start by looking at an MG4 or BYD Dolphin; there are versions of each below $30,000.

If you can find an older BMW i3 it could also be a bit of fun. The ones with the smaller battery packs didn’t have much driving range, which makes them a bit less attractive on the used market, something that keeps prices down. But they were great fun to drive and well presented for a compact city car.

Question: I'm keen to get your opinion on a suitable replacement for my 2009 FD Hyundai i30 diesel wagon. It’s been superb in so many ways, but I’ve taken it down way too many dirt roads here in south-west WA and one day I’m gonna get stuck.

I'm a wagon man for life, and I’m planning on doing my usual trick of buying a used wagon in the 100,000km to 150,000km range ($12,000 to $17,000), and then running the clock through to about 250,000km.

I'm keen for fuel efficiency, but I’m not doing as many kilometres as I used to. I’ve loved having a turbo diesel, so I started looking at Subaru Outback diesels, but then read some concerning feedback on them. Same for the 2.5 ULP version, with its CVT, timing chain and electrical issues.

I know all cars have issues, but it seems Outback has more than most? Or is it all a bit overblown, part of the Toyota bean-counters destroying Subaru soap opera?

Another bunch of wagons with good clearance that seem like good value are the Volvo Cross Country models. What do you think of those?

Any others I’ve missed? I’m not anti-SUV and would go for a wagon-ish SUV if it was as reliable as the i30 FD diesels. – Andrew

Answer: You’ve partly nailed it with the Subaru in that any car that’s covered decent kilometres can be prone to issues. And, yes, Outbacks are included in that, although we’ve also generally had very positive reports about reliability.

The older engines could have head gasket issues, which is an expensive fix in a boxer engine (the engine needs to be removed), but otherwise if you purchase carefully (check the history, get an inspection), there’s the potential for a great car.

So I’d definitely be keeping the Outback on the shortlist. It’ll also do a much better job than your i30 on gravel roads. The Subaru is designed for exactly that.

Even its wheels and tyres are well suited to that rough road driving.

If you want to stay in the Hyundai family, then an i40 would be a good place to start. It was available as a wagon with a frugal diesel engine.

There are other European options, including the Peugeot 508, Citroen C5 and C5X, Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Octavia or Superb.

But we’re not sure any will give you the same reliability you’ve experienced in your Hyundai.

It sounds as though your preference is diesel, which limits some options.

There are various petrol alternatives, including the last of the Holden Commodore wagons (the ones imported from Germany, not made in Australia). It wasn’t particularly economical but otherwise wasn’t a bad car. The demise of Holden means prices are also fairly low.

Question: Can you please tell me if a 2019 Mitsubishi Triton is worth $26,000? – Teresa

Answer: Utes come in a broad spread of models and body styles and can be offered in two- or four-wheel drive. The most expensive variants of a particular model – be it a Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux or Mitsubishi Triton – can cost twice as much as the most affordable variants.

All of which is a way of saying I have no idea if $26,000 is a fair price.

Your best bet is to check out Redbook for a valuation of the exact model you’re looking at.

Even then, though, there can be enormous variation depending on the condition, service history and how far the car has been driven.

A quick look at 2019 Tritons shows the used price range estimate is between about $10,000 and $35,000, depending on conditions, kilometres and which model you’re looking at.

Also, regarding condition and the history of the car, if you’re unsure what you’re looking at it could be worth getting an independent inspection to help you make a more informed choice.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at

editor@carsales.com.au

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